Challenge Pocono Mountains Course Maps

SWIM COURSE

Both Olympic and Half distance athletes will swim a point to point swim in a body of water simply called Second Pond. This small yet very deep body of water was once part of the world renowned Tamiment Resort owned by Wayne Newton. Local lore has it that his helicopter still rests on the bottom somewhere! Let us know if you spot it in the crystal clear water that is sure to be wetsuit legal and very fast.

Swim Course: Olympic

Swim Course: Half

BIKE COURSE

Don’t let the name Pocono “Mountains” keep you away! This scenic ride is not as mountainous or hilly as it sounds (check out the course profile for yourself). Once out of the water and onto your bike you leave the former resort and plunge down a 4 mile (6.4km), 475 foot (145m) descent and into the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Say ‘goodbye’ to car traffic, because once inside the park, we are closed to car traffic (open to authorized vehicles only). Stunning views of farm fields, mountain sides, and the Delaware River will make your time fly by on this gently rolling out and back ride through the heart of the Poconos. The final 12 miles of this ride will feature a few technical descents and more twists and turns as you parallel the river’s flat lands of the river valley and come to T2 at the Historic Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort.

It truly is a privilege to host an event in this National Park. This year more than ever, as this race is part of their 50th Year Anniversary celebration series of events! Currently the DWGNRA preserves 40 miles of the middle Delaware River and almost 70,000 acres of land along the river’s Pennsylvania and New Jersey shores – the largest recreation area in the eastern U.S. At the south end of the park, the river cuts eastward through the Appalachian Mountains at the scenic Delaware Water Gap. According to NPS 2013 visitation figures for America’s national parks, DWGNRA, is the 10th-most visited property in the National Park Service. Come be a part of this celebration!

Bike Course: Olympic

Bike Course: Half

RUN COURSE

Leaving T2, the run course will wind around the Wyndham Villas and the historic Shawnee Village neighborhood. The course features and out and back run on a rolling course that will challenge even the most seasoned triathletes. You will cross paths with the bikes as you run out for the first 2 miles and then you will run onto the scenic McDade Trail. The trail passes through forested areas and farm fields and past views of the majestic Delaware River. The terrain of the trail is a wide gravel path. Coming back into Shawnee, you come through the finish line to end your epic day!